U.S. Open adds a day, increases prize money

White Plains, NY (Sports Network) - The United States Tennis Association
announced that the 2013 U.S. Open men's final will be held on a Monday and
prize money for the Grand Slam event will be increased by $4 million,
doubling the record $2-million increase of 2012.

Total U.S. Open prize money next year will be $29.5 million. The singles prize money has now increased by 34 percent and the overall tournament purse has been increased by $6 million since 2011.

Meanwhile, in order to accommodate the players' request for a day of rest
between the singles semifinals and finals, the 2013 U.S. Open is scheduled to
conclude on Monday, September 9. The women's singles semifinals will be played
in a single day session on Friday, September 6, and the women's final will
take place on Sunday, September 8 at 4:30 p.m. ET, in the time slot where the
men's singles final was traditionally played.

The men's singles semifinals will continue to be played in a single day
session on Saturday, September 7, with the men's singles final to take place
on Monday, September 9 at 5 p.m. ET. In the new schedule, no competition will
be scheduled for the second Saturday night of the tournament.

"Both the prize money increase and the addition of a day of rest are great for
the players," said four-time U.S. Open champion Serena Williams. "These moves
make the tournament stronger than it's ever been for all players."

"I'm pleased that the USTA has modified the U.S. Open schedule to include a
day of rest between the semifinals and final," said this year's men's champion
Andy Murray. "Together with the prize money increase, it's good that they've
taken on board the players' concerns."